Gallery, Projects and General > How do I??

Where could I salvage some spring steel?

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raynerd:
Hi guys

As some of you know, I`m into pen repair and restoration. There is a part to the pen called a pressure bar or J-bar:



They are quite hard to get hold of and I tend to order from the USA but with my new found machining skills I feel there must be something out there that I could make these from! They are quite simply so very thin steel (or perhaps other materials would work!) sheet cut into small sections and bent to a hook at the end. The picture is actually showing a super small one, they are normally a few inch bigger. I have tried to make one from a springy steel desk clip but it was a little too strong - they need to spring under quite light pressures but flex back easily to their normal position. I remember years ago my sister use to have hair clips and they worked off a similar spring steel - unfortunately they are just not long enough as I have looked into these.

Anyone any ideas where I could buy the raw material or any ideas of anything I could salvage it from? They cost about £3 a pop and I`m sure a sheet to make 20 - 30 of these could be purchased for similar price if I could find the right stuff.

Help greatly appreciated.

Chris

Bernd:
Chris,

You could try the old wind up clocks. The main spring is made from "spring steel". Lacking an old clock to take apart try a clock repair shop they my have some broken springs they'll give you.

To bad your over the pond and sending anything over cost both sender and reciever an arm and leg. I have several pounds of clock springs. The wifes hobby is old clocks and she works part time at a clock shop. That's were I got my springs from.

Bernd

sbwhart:
Chris

You could try her http://www.hswalsh.com/

 I've got bits for old American clocks from them that I use to mess about with there very good.

Stew

bogstandard:
Find out your thickness requirements, and buy a couple of tins of it. :lol:

http://www.stephensgaskets.co.uk/SteelShims.html

John

websterz:
There are several feet of nice clockspring inside of a measuring tape. Just be careful opening the inner mechanism, it will come out like a, well, it'll come out fast and can be dangerous. You should be able to bend it in a gentle radius, square angles are no good though, it will snap right off. It's pretty thin stuff, shouldn't be overkill for your use.

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